A deputy who had stepped out of his cruiser to confront the cornered suspects was instead hit by their car, causing minor injuries to his leg and foot, said sheriff's spokesman Larry McKinnon. Deputies starting firing, and a male suspect was shot in the shoulder. He was hospitalized but his condition was not immediately known.

A second deputy suffered a possible dislocated shoulder when the suspect tried to flee at the end of the pursuit, the Sheriff's Office said. The deputy was being treated at a local hospital.

A female passenger in the suspect's car was not injured, but was being treated at a local hospital Wednesday night for an unrelated medical condition.

The male and female suspects were wanted in connection with a RadioShack robbery in Sun City Center, McKinnon said.

Northbound I-75 was closed at Gibsonton Drive for more than four hours Wednesday night, while all southbound lanes remained open. Three other vehicles were struck, causing minor damage and but no injuries, the Sheriff's Office said.

While the northbound lanes were closed, motorists were directed to leave the interstate at the Gibsonton Drive exit.

A Florida Highway Patrol spokesman said the agency was assisting deputies at the scene.